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Battle over Battersea
BY F.M. WIGGINS
STAFF WRITER
04/13/2008
PETERSBURG — A year after a private-public partnership was formed to restore one of the city’s most historic properties, the next step in that relationship will come before City Council this week.
The issue is whether the city will provide the state a voluntary deed of easement at Battersea, limiting development on the 37-acre property.
But whether such an easement is even needed is disagreed upon by the private backers of the plantation and some city officials. At stake could be $100,000 toward the effort to bring the historic home back to life.
Battersea is a Colonial house and property that predates the American Revolution. Situated near the Appomattox River, the home was originally built for Petersburg’s first mayor, John Banister. The house itself is a rare example of neo-Palladian architecture. During the Revolutionary War, British troops occupied the house on more than one occasion.
According to those with the public-private preservation group Battersea Inc., the easement will allow the group to receive at least $100,000 in funding and serve as a means of assuring more money. The group was formed last year and a memorandum of agreement was drawn up between the city and the group.
“The house is the draw,” Barbara Moseley said of Battersea. Moseley is involved with Battersea Inc. and is passionate about the historic home’s role in the city’s future. She said the property is unique because it features American Indian artifacts, Colonial artifacts and even relics from the Civil War. “It’s not just about what the city can do for the house, but what the house can do for the city, and the house can do a lot.”
Moseley said once the state has the easement, it will make fundraising for her group easier. She said donors will be more willing to give money because they would be assured that the property won’t be developed for something else.
“It will retain it’s historic nature,” Moseley said. She added that the easement is very important for Battersea Inc. in reaching it’s goal of making the site an educational, economic and cultural draw for the city.
Additionally, Moseley said the easement will allow the city and the group to receive grant funds from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
Assistant City Attorney Ellen Bowyer said that sometime around Feb. 16, 2006, an application for $75,000 in historic preservation grant funds was submitted to the Department of Historic Resources. She said state law requires non-governmental organizations that receive $50,000 or more in historic preservation grant funds within a four-year period to grant a perpetual easement to the state. She said it initially appeared that the Department of Historic Resources thought this requirement applied to local governments as well.
The city purchased the property for $200,000 in 1985.
Mayor Annie Mickens announced at the March 18 regular City Council meeting that it had been established that a deed of easement is not required as a condition of receiving the grand funds from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Regardless of whether the easement is required or not, at the April 1 meeting Councilman Ray Coleman requested a public hearing on whether to grant the state a voluntary deed of easement.
Moseley said the house sits on 37 acres in the middle of a city, the tranquility providing a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. Additionally, she said the house continually draws the curious, and as a publicly owned property, should be open more often.
“It could be the economic generator for this end of Petersburg,” Moseley said. She said Petersburg in many ways is like a mall with certain key “anchor store” like areas. The downtown and Crater Road are two. Moseley said that with the full support of the city and interest from the public, Battersea could be the economic engine for the western end of the city.
The City Council meeting to discuss the easement at Battersea will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Union Station on River Street.
• F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com.
©The Progress-Index 2008
Online at: http://www.progress-index.com/site/n...d=462946&rfi=6
BY F.M. WIGGINS
STAFF WRITER
04/13/2008
PETERSBURG — A year after a private-public partnership was formed to restore one of the city’s most historic properties, the next step in that relationship will come before City Council this week.
The issue is whether the city will provide the state a voluntary deed of easement at Battersea, limiting development on the 37-acre property.
But whether such an easement is even needed is disagreed upon by the private backers of the plantation and some city officials. At stake could be $100,000 toward the effort to bring the historic home back to life.
Battersea is a Colonial house and property that predates the American Revolution. Situated near the Appomattox River, the home was originally built for Petersburg’s first mayor, John Banister. The house itself is a rare example of neo-Palladian architecture. During the Revolutionary War, British troops occupied the house on more than one occasion.
According to those with the public-private preservation group Battersea Inc., the easement will allow the group to receive at least $100,000 in funding and serve as a means of assuring more money. The group was formed last year and a memorandum of agreement was drawn up between the city and the group.
“The house is the draw,” Barbara Moseley said of Battersea. Moseley is involved with Battersea Inc. and is passionate about the historic home’s role in the city’s future. She said the property is unique because it features American Indian artifacts, Colonial artifacts and even relics from the Civil War. “It’s not just about what the city can do for the house, but what the house can do for the city, and the house can do a lot.”
Moseley said once the state has the easement, it will make fundraising for her group easier. She said donors will be more willing to give money because they would be assured that the property won’t be developed for something else.
“It will retain it’s historic nature,” Moseley said. She added that the easement is very important for Battersea Inc. in reaching it’s goal of making the site an educational, economic and cultural draw for the city.
Additionally, Moseley said the easement will allow the city and the group to receive grant funds from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
Assistant City Attorney Ellen Bowyer said that sometime around Feb. 16, 2006, an application for $75,000 in historic preservation grant funds was submitted to the Department of Historic Resources. She said state law requires non-governmental organizations that receive $50,000 or more in historic preservation grant funds within a four-year period to grant a perpetual easement to the state. She said it initially appeared that the Department of Historic Resources thought this requirement applied to local governments as well.
The city purchased the property for $200,000 in 1985.
Mayor Annie Mickens announced at the March 18 regular City Council meeting that it had been established that a deed of easement is not required as a condition of receiving the grand funds from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Regardless of whether the easement is required or not, at the April 1 meeting Councilman Ray Coleman requested a public hearing on whether to grant the state a voluntary deed of easement.
Moseley said the house sits on 37 acres in the middle of a city, the tranquility providing a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. Additionally, she said the house continually draws the curious, and as a publicly owned property, should be open more often.
“It could be the economic generator for this end of Petersburg,” Moseley said. She said Petersburg in many ways is like a mall with certain key “anchor store” like areas. The downtown and Crater Road are two. Moseley said that with the full support of the city and interest from the public, Battersea could be the economic engine for the western end of the city.
The City Council meeting to discuss the easement at Battersea will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Union Station on River Street.
• F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com.
©The Progress-Index 2008
Online at: http://www.progress-index.com/site/n...d=462946&rfi=6
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